Mechanical floor mat



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JNVENToR. RAYMOND H. RYZENGA ATTOQMEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATE-"IS PATENT OFFIC n `1 MECHANICL FLOOR MAT Raymond H. Ryzenga, Holland, Mich. Application uly 18, 1952, Serial No. 299,558

'I'his invention relates to mechanical floor mats and more particularly to be mountedin an opening vin a'building floor and having powerdriven brushes for removing dirt from `shoes of a person standing on the mat. l v It is among the objects'of the invention to provide a mechanical oor mat which can be mounted in an opening ina building floor with its upper surface substantially ilush with the floor and will support a person walking or standing thereon; lwhich has power driven brushes engageable with the shoe'soles of aperson walking over the 'mat to remove dirt 4from the shoe soles andfwhich is placed'in operation bythe weight 'of a person thereon; which has a dirt receiving space or receptacle below the brushes which can be emptied when necessary; which hasremovable brushes whichcan bev readily replaced by new brushes when-necessary; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent fromv a consideration of the following description and the' appended claims in conjunction withthe accompanying `drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top planview of a mechanical floor mat illustrative of theinvention with a portion of the associated oor fragmentarlyillustrated; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure'S is a cross sectional View on the 3 3 of Figure 1; i l

Figure 4 isa transverse cross sectional View on une the lineld f Figure 2'; IFigure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional `view on'anenlarged scale on the line 5'-5 of Figure 3; :"Figurej is a fragmentary cross sectional View 'on an enlarged scale on the line 6-6 of Figure mandi, ,il .s L*

Figure j? is a perspective View of an arbor and sector-gear "unit constituting an -operative com ponent of the device. s Y A j AjWith continued reference to the drawings,V the device comprises a` frame or housing, generally indicated at ,I 0',having spaced apart and substantially"parallel end walls II and I2 and spaced apart and substantially parallel side walls I3 and 1I A joined at their Vopposite ends to the correspond ing 'endsof the lend walls and disposed sulostan tially perpendicular to the latter. The upper end eftheheusing lo is open and provided wituen .outwardly projecting, surrounding ,flange f I 5A and at lits" lower endthe housing is provided with an iriw'eit115?A izfietingganse rl 6 extending alms the A:4v-claimt (01115-37) side .and end walls thereof. The end wall I2 is provided with an opening I'I of rectangular shape at the lower end of the housing and a receptacle vI8 of rectangular shape is slidable through the opening I 'I into thefhousing and is supported on theinwardly extending flange I6 to receive the dirt cleaned from shoe soles by the operation iof the mechanical mat. A handle I9 is providedy on the receptacle I8 at the end vof the latter disposed in the opening I'I to facilitate' placing thel'receptacle in and removing lit lfrom the housing III. When the receptacle I 8 is in place infthe housing it completely closes the bottom end of the-housimg. A, "Ihe 'housing I0 is mounted in a rectangular opening 20 in a building oor 2I andthe llange I5 rests on the upper surface of the lloor surrounding the opening 20 to support the-housing from the floor with the major portion 'of the housing disposed below the floor. A fairing 22 havinga beveled outer edge,.as indicated at 23, surrounds the flange I5 of the housing IIJ 'and has a recessfin its inner edge receiv-A ing the nange I5l so that the flangeand the up' per end of the housing I0 is entirelyv concealed. The side wall I3 of the housing is provided near its upperedge-Wlth a plurality of openings 25 spaced apart longitudinally of the side wall and roller bearing units 2B are mounted one in each of theopenings 25.l Each bearing unit includes a housing having a ange 21 overlying the -outer side of the housing side Wall I3 surrounding the corresponding opening 25 and secured to :the side wall by suitable means, such as the screws'28 ex` tending through registering apertures in the side wall I 3 and the flange 21. The side wallv I4 is also provided near its upper edge'with a plurality of apertures 30 spaced apart 4longitudinally thereof and roller bearing-units 3| are disposed one` in each of the openings 3l).V Each of 'the bearing 'units 3I includes a housing having an outwardly extending ange v32 overlying theinnensidei of the side wall I4 around the corresponding opening 30 and secured to the side wall by .suitable means, such as the screws 33 extending through registeringwapertures in the side wall lIll andfthe llange 32.' Y

Arbors 35 `of cylindrical shape are iournaled one in each of the bearings 3I `andteach of these ar-, bors has'on its end disposed 'outwardly'of the corresponding housing sidewall I4 a sector-gear On. its endV disposedinwardly of the vhousmg wall I4 each arbor 35 is provided witha-n extension or formation 31 of semi-cylindrical shape .having @bemin a recess 38 also of semi-cylindrie cal shape and disposed coaxially of the arbor 35. Each arbor also has an'annular groove 39 therein at the end of the bearing unit 3l disposed inwardly of the housing side wall I4 and each extension 31 has a hole 40 extending radially therethrough.

. A plurality of shafts 4I are disposed transversely of the housing l and each shaft is journaled at one end ina corresponding bearing unit 25 carriedby thel housing Wall ISL At its other end the shaft is received in the recess 38 oi the corresponding arbor extension 31 and is secured to the arbor extension by suitable means, such as the cotter key `42 extending through a transverse aperture in the shaft 4I and throughthe hole Alll in the arbor extension 31. Snap'rings 43 are mounted one on each arbor 35 atl the inner ends ci the corresponding bearing units 3l and each brackets and upward movement of the grid 55 relative to the housing I0. A compression spring, as indicated at 59, surrounds each pin 51 between the corresponding bracket 56 and the lower side of the grid 55 and these springs resiliently support the grid 55 at an elevation such that the upper surface of the grid is substantially ilush with the upper surface of the top flange I5 of the housing I0, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. Stops 6U in the form of small angle brackets are secured to the side walls I3 and I4 of the housing at the inner sides of the side walls and engage y the bottom edge of the grid 55 when the grid has is engaged in the groove 3S in the corresponding arbor to maintain the arbore against longitudinal movement relative tothe corresponding bearing units. l

Bristle tufts v411 are securedeach at-.one end to each shaft 4I .at spaced apart locations along the shaft and extendradially vfrom the'corresponding shaft toprovideafplurality of .brushes extending transversely of `the housing `Ill and spaced apart longitudinally thereof. Thebristletufts 4t secured to each v.shaft 4l are .disposed substantially inastraight line extending longitudinally of the shaitand have alength such vthat when in avertical l.position they extend somewhat above the top surface of the fairing i22, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

.Apertured lugs y"45 and .46 are secured to the end-walls :Il and! 2 lrespectively of the housing lf) and projectuoutwardly beyond the side wall I4. Afra'ck bar f41 extends lslidably through the apertures in lugs '45 and-436 vand Vis disposed at the outer side of the side Wall 44 somewhat below and adjacent `thesector gears 35. This rack bar d1 has :a plurality of rack teeth I8 .thereon which mesh with theteethfd of the sector gears 35 to impart rotational. movements to the sector gears 3B and the shafts v4I when .reciprocating movement .is .mpsrtedtc the rack bar 41. An electric motor 150 mounted von the under side `of the licor-:'24 adjacent one end of the rack bar d1 and drives ,fa -crankor disc 5I `through a suitable reduction gearunit--E-.. yAlink 53. is pivotally connectedat one endto the disc 5I feccentrical-ly .of the center of rotation 54 of thedisc andthe other end of Ithis link 53 is pivotally connected to the adacent .end of the rack 4bar 41 so that the rack bar reciprocated when the disc 5I is rotated by the motor 55. I A grid 55 lof rectangularshape is mounted in thelhousing 1,0. 4above the shafts A4I and has .openings therein through which .the bristle tufts 44 extend when the tuits are brought to a/position at which the extend upwardly from the `correspondng'shafts 41'. Brackets n5t are mountedin the housing .'I'I) one at each inner ncorner 'oi 'the "housing, and "these brackets are all disposed substantially the same distance rcmthetop flange oi t'hehousing and each has an apertured portion 'disposed substantially parallel to the flange I5.

Pin-s 51 'are secured 'attheir upper ends to 'the 'gri'd55 *one at 4each lcorner of the grid and these pins *depend 'from the grid andl extend slid-ably through the apertures in the 'corresponding brackets 56. Each pin -51hars-ascrew threaded iowerend Lreceiving -a -nut"58 which engages the underside of lthe corresponding bracket to limit upward movement lof the pins relative to the been depressed a predetermined amount to limit downward movement of the grid to an extent such that-the bottom edge of the grid will not at any time contact the shafts 4I. The nuts 53 are so adjusted on the pins 51 that when there is no weight on the grid the springs 59 move the grid upwardly until its upper surface is substantially iiush with the uppersurface of the fairing 2%2.' A switch 62 is moimted on the end Wall I2 at the outer side of the end Wall andconnected .into the energizingcircuit of the motor 50. A beam33 is disposed below the grid S5-and secured atene end to the grid near the center of the latter by struts 64 .depending from the gridto the corre spending end of the beam and this beam .extends through a slot 65 in the housing end wall `l2 and engages the switch button 55.

With this arrangement, when the .grid is depressed against the force of springs .59 by the weight .of a person walking over or standingon the grid, the beam 63 `is moved downwardly yand moves the switch button 66 to lclose the switch B2 and energize the motor .50.. When themotor is energized it rotates the disc 5I and reciprocates the rack bar` 41 which in turn-oscillates the sector gears k35 and the shafts .4I causing the bristle tufts vI4 on the shafts to swing in substantially semicircular arcs above ahorizontal plane including the rotational axes of the shafts 4I. When the weight of the person is removed from the grid 55 the .springs 59 raise the grid 55 Vin the 139.1263 :and the switch 52 is then opened to discontinue operation of the motor 50.

A head 5B is provided on the `end of the rack bar 41 remote from .the motor 5U and a compression spring 59 surrounds the rack bar betweenithe head 58 and the lugs .45, this spring being effective to move the rack bar and rotate the Vshafts M .to a position at which the bristle vtufts 44 are .all disposed below the grid 55 when operation .of the motor .50i is discontinued.

The grid can be liftedout .of the upperend portion ofthe housing l0 after the `nuts 5B have been threaded off of the pins .51, and with the grid removed, the vold brush units can be removed by first removing the cutter .keys 42 and then lifting the shafts 4I out of 'the arbor extensions 31 and pulling them out of the .bearings A2li. After the old brushes have .been removed new'.bruShS can be placed by simply inserting thenew .shafts at one .end in the corresponding bearings 25, placing the `other ends .in .thecorresponding arbor extensions .3] .and reinserting the cotter keys .42, If the construction of the .building is such ythat access to .the receptacle'l 4cannot be'had below the floor 12'I .supporting the mat, .this receptacle can'bevso shaped that it can be lifted out through the top of the lhousing Ill after thefhousng ld 55 and 'shats 4I have 'been removed from the housing.

The mat will preferably be made of sufficient size `that 'a person ywill 'take two or more steps in walking over it and these yfew steps will provide 'ampie opportunity forthe imac* tfzsusstaritiany remove all dirt-fromfthepersonsishoeysoles so that Ait `will-l not fb'e'l. necessary for the person to 'Pause or standonthemat. ffI-f- The invention'-may` 'bei` embodied in other `specic forms without departing from the yspirit'or essential characteristicswthereof. 'I'he present emb'odi-mentl` isf-therefore? tbe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the ifnventioniibeing indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical :door mat comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in an opening in a building floor and having spaced apart and substantially parallel end members and spaced apart and substantially parallel side members provided with apertures spaced apart longitudinally thereof, bearings disposed one in each of said apertures, arbors disposed one in each bearing in one of said side members and each having a sector gear at the outer side and a recessed semicylindrical formation at the inner side of said one side member, shafts extending transversely of said frame and each having one end received in a corresponding bearing in the other of said side members and its other end secured in the recessed formation of a corresponding arbor carried by said one side member, bristle tufts projecting radially from said shafts at' spaced apart locations therealong, a rack bar disposed along the outer side of said one side member and having teeth thereon meshing with the teeth of said sector gears, a motor disposed adjacent said frame, means connecting said motor to said rack bar and imparting reciprocating movement to the latter when said motor is energized, a grid disposed above said shaft and having openings therein receiving said bristle tufts, springs supporting said grid from said housing and eilective to permit a limited downward movement of said grid when the latter is subjected to the weight of ya person thereon, and an energizing circuit for said motor including a switch disposed adjacent `said grid and closed by the latter to energize said motor when said grid is subjected to the weight of a person thereon.

2. A mechanical iloor mat comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in an opening in a building floor and having spaced apart and substantially parallel end members and spaced apart and substantially parallel side members provided with apertures spaced apart longitudinally thereof, bearings disposed one in each of said apertures, arbors disposed one in each bearing in one of said side members and each having a sector gear at the outer side and a recessed semicylindrical formation at the inner side of said one side member, shafts extending transversely of said frame and each having one end received in a corresponding bearing in the other of said side members and its other end secured in the recessed formation of a corresponding arbor carried by said one side member, bristle tufts projecting radially from said shafts at spaced apart locations therealong, ya rack bar disposed along the outer side of said one side member and having teeth thereon meshing with the teeth of said sector gears, a motor disposed adjacent said frame, means connecting said motor to said rack *.bar and imparting reciprocatory movement to the" latter: .'wherrsaid.l motor-fis energized, aifgrid disposed'above" said :shaft :and having openings .thereinreceiving said 'bristletuf-ts; springsi sup'- "of a .person thereon, an energizing circuit forsaid motor including;A a .switch .disposed .adjacent .said grid and closed f. .by f the .latter .to f energize? said Ymotor'w'hen said gridis subjected :to the weight of a person thereon, and spring means connected between said rack bar and said housing eifective to move said rack bar to a position at which all of said bristle tufts Aare disposed below said grid when said motor is de-energized. i

3. A mechanical floor mat comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in an opening in a building fioor and having spaced apart and substantially parallel end members and spaced apart and substantially parallel side members provided with apertures spaced apart longitudinally thereof, bearings disposed one in each of said apertures, arbors disposed one in each lbearing in one of said side members and each having a sector gear at the outer side and a recessed semicylindrical formation at the inner side of said one side member, shafts extending transversely of said frame and each having one end received in a corresponding bearing in the other of said side members and its other end secured in the recessed formation of a corresponding arbor carried by said one side member, bristle tufts projecting radially from said shafts at spaced apart locations therealong, a rack bar disposed along the outer side of said one side member and having teeth thereon meshing with the' teeth o1' said sector gears, a motor disposed adjacent said frame, means connecting said motor to said rack bar and imparting reciprocatory movement to the latter when said motor is energized, a grid disposed above said shaft and having openings therein receiving said bristle tufts, springs supportingl said grid from said housing and effective to permit a limited downward movement of said grid when the latter is subjected to the weight of a person thereon, an energizing circuit for said motor including a switch disposed adjacent said grid and closed by the latter to energize said motor when said grid is subjected to the Weight of a person thereon, and a receptacle removably mounted in said housing below said shafts for receiving dirt removed from shoe soles by said bristle tufts.

4. A mechanical oor mat comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in. an opening in a building oor and having spaced apart and substantially parallel end members and spaced apart and substantially parallel side members provided with apertures spaced apart longitudinally thereof, bearings disposed one in each of said apertures, arbors disposed one in each bearing in one of said side members and each having a sector gear at the outer side and a recessed semicylindrical formation at the inner side of said one side member, shafts extending transversely of said frame and each having one end received in a corresponding bearing in the other of said side members and its other end secured in the recessed formation of a corresponding arbor carried by said one side member, bristle tufts projecting radially from said shafts at spaced apart locations therealong, a rack bar disposed along the outer side of said one side member and having teeth thereon meshing with the teeth of said sector gears, a motor disposed adjacent said .means cannectinsaid-motor .to said rack imparting .'recipzocatery .movement 4to lthe lattergwhen said motor is energized, a g1-'id disposed .above :said shaft and having v.openings adjacent said .grid and closed by .the latter ,to2 energize .said motor vwhen said grid is sub- `bristle tufts on each shaft being `disposed subgtntiaiiy in a. maignunne extending longitudifxianynf .the corresponding shaft. f .RAYMOND H. mzzENGA No references cited. 

